Molecular switches for electron and energy transfer processes based on metal complexes

Chelating Coordination Regulated Photochromic Electrospun Nanofibers for Waterproof and Long-Color-Retention Rewritable Wearables

Photochromic materials with rapid color-switching, long color retention times, and rewritability are crucial for meeting the requirements of future rewritable ink-free media. However, these requirements are challenging to satisfy simultaneously due to the inherent constraints among these features. Herein, a novel photochromic nanofiber nonwoven fabric was designed and constructed based on a conjugated organic-inorganic hybrid structure through electrospinning and hot-pressing techniques. The as-prepared fabric can change color in merely 5 s under UV irradiation and can reach saturation within 2 min. In addition, upon the introduction of a potent metal chelator, its color retention time exceeds 14 days under ambient conditions, significantly longer than that of most rewritable materials recently reported (several hours to 5 days). Moreover, the fabric exhibits high writing resolution and can be photoprinted and heat-erased for over 100 cycles while still retaining 96% of its initial reflectivity. Hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane provides the fabric with excellent waterproof and antifouling properties, thus preventing the composite from swelling or collecting graffiti due to moisture or dust. This work exploits a competitive approach for designing flexible, rewritable, and superior functional wearables with practical applications.

Design, Transport/Molecular Scale Electronics, Electric Properties, and a Conventional Quantum Study of a New Potential Molecular Switch for Nanoelectronic Devices

In this study, we examined the influence of an external electric field applied in two directions: horizontal (X-axis) and vertical (Y-axis) on the electronic and vibrational properties of a field-effect molecular switch, denoted as M. We employed density functional theory and quantum theory of atoms in molecules for this analysis. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve of molecular switch system M was computed by applying the Landauer formula. The results showed that the switching mechanism depends on the direction of the electric field. When the electric field is applied along the X-axis and its intensity is around 0.01 au, OFF/ON switching mechanisms occur. By utilizing electronic localization functions and localized-orbital locator topological analysis, we observed significant intramolecular electronic charge transfer "back and forth" in Au-M-Au systems when compared to the isolated system. The noncovalent interaction revealed that the Au-M-Au complex is also stabilized by electrostatic interactions. However, if the electric field is applied along the Y-axis, a switching mechanism (OFF/ON) occurs when the electric field intensity reaches 0.008 au. Additionally, the local electronic phenomenological coefficients (Lelec) of this field-effect molecular switch were determined by using the Onsager phenomenological approach. It can also be predicted that the molecular electrical conductance (G) increases as Lelec increases. Finally, the electronic and vibrational properties of the proposed models M and Au-M-Au exhibit a powerful switching mechanism that may potentially be employed in a new generation of electronic devices.

Boric acid group-functional ruthenium complex as a novel fluorescence probe for robust detection of propyl gallate and tert-butyl hydroquinone by tuning the pH

This study reported a ruthenium complex-based fluorescence probe, achieving rapid and sequential detection of propyl gallate (PG) and tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) for the first time by tuning pH only. Under 480 nm excitation, probe exhibited intensive emission at 620 nm, which was selectively quenched by PG at pH 7.0 due to the covalent binding between the boric acid of probe and o-diphenol hydroxyl of PG. Then pH was tuned to 7.4, the emission was significantly quenched by TBHQ because of the π-π stacking between aromatic rings of probe and paraquinone of TBHQ. This probe realized specific and sensitive detection of PG and TBHQ with wide range and low detection limit (0.26 µM for PG and 0.66 µM for TBHQ). Furthermore, a portable visual test paper detection platform was built based on this probe for rapid and sensitive detection of antioxidants in food, which was of great significance for market regulation.

Aromatic and heteroaromatic azacrown compounds: advantages and disadvantages of rigid macrocyclic ligands

Current approaches to the synthesis of aromatic and heteroaromatic azamacrocycles and their derivatives are summarized and systematized. The relationship between the structure of azacrown compounds and their complexation behaviour towards metal cations is analyzed. The diversity of practical applications of azamacrocyclic derivatives in medicine, biology and analytical and organic chemistry, as well as for the design of molecular devices is demonstrated.

The bibliography includes 307 references.

Dinuclear metal complexes: multifunctional properties and applications

Dinuclear metal complexes have enabled breakthroughs in OLEDs, photocatalytic water splitting and CO₂reduction, DSPEC, chemosensors, biosensors, PDT and smart materials.

Heteroleptic [Os(Cl)(CO)(P^P)(pbi)] complexes bearing bidentate phosphine and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazolate ligands: impact of isomerism on their luminescence properties

Two isomeric series of osmium(ii) complexes exhibit significant differences in their luminescence properties.

Sensitive determination of lysozyme by using a luminescent and colorimetric probe based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles induced by an anionic ruthenate(II) complex

The negatively charged ruthenate(II) complex [Ru(bpy)(PPh₃)(CN)₃]^- and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used for detecting lysozyme (LYS). The luminescence of the ruthenate(II) complex is quenched by AuNPs, and this induces the aggregation of AuNPs and a color change from red to blue. After addition of lysozyme, the positively charged lysozyme and the negatively charged ruthenate(II) complex bind each other by electrostatic interaction firstly. This prevents AuNPs from aggregation and quenches the emission of the ruthenate(II) complex. Its luminescence and the degree of aggregation of the AuNPs can be used to quantify LYS. The fluorometric calibration plot is linear in the 0.01 to 0.20 μM LYS concentration range, and the calibration plot is linear between 0.02 and 0.20 μM of LYS. The color of the solution can be easily distinguished by bare eyes at 0.08 μM or higher concentration of LYS. The applicability of the method was verified by the correct analysis of LYS in chicken egg white. Graphical abstract Schematic of a luminometric and colorimetric probe based on the induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles by an anionic luminescent ruthenate(II) complex or sensitive lysozyme detection.

Structural basis for expanding the application of bioligand in metal bioremediation: A review

Bioligands (BL) present in plant and microbes are primarily responsible for their use in metal decontamination. Both primary (proteins and amino acid) and secondary (proliferated) response in the form of BL is possible in plants and microbes toward metal bioremediation. Structure of these BL have specific requirement for preferential binding towards a particular metal in biomass. The aim of this review is to explore various templates from BL (as metal host) for the metal detoxification/decontamination and associated bioremediation. Mechanistic explanation for bioremediation may involve the various processes like: (i) electron transfer; (ii) translocation; and (iii) coordination number variation. HSAB (hard and soft acid and base) concept can act as guiding principle for many such processes. It is possible to investigate various structural homolog of BL (similar to secondary response in living stage) for the possible improvement in bioremediation process.

Photoswitchable and pH responsive organoplatinum(ii) complexes with azopyridine ligands

Several platinum(ii) complexes with ligands containing azo groups have been prepared and structurally characterised, and their photoswitching between trans and cis azo group isomers has been studied. The azo groups in the cationic complexes [PtMe(bipy)(4-NC₅H₄-N[double bond, length as m-dash]N-4-C₆H₄X)][PF₆], X = H, OH or NMe₂, and in the dicationic complex [Pt(bipy)(4-H₂NC₆H₄-N[double bond, length as m-dash]N-C₆H₅)₂][OTf]₂ undergo trans to cis photoswitching on irradiation at 365 nm. The complex [PtMe(bipy)(4-NC₅H₄-N[double bond, length as m-dash]N-4-C₆H₄NMe)₂][PF₆] also exhibits a reversible halochromic effect on protonation to give the dicationic complex [PtMe(bipy)(4-NC₅H₄-NH[double bond, length as m-dash]N-4-C₆H₄NMe₂]²⁺. The nature of the frontier orbitals in the platinum(ii) complexes depends on the charge on the complex and on the degree of metal-ligand π-bonding.

Going against the flow: Os(ii)-to-Ru(ii) energy transfer in rod-like polypyridyl chromophore

The judicious design of a unique mixed-metal Ru-Os molecular rod led to the first photoinduced energy transfer from osmium-to-ruthenium in a polypyridyl complex. The absorbed light is directed from the osmium metal center to the peripheral ruthenium moieties, where only the low energy luminescence from the heteroleptic ruthenium phen-hpp complex was observed.

Thiocyanate mediated structural diversity in phenol based "end-off" compartmental ligand complexes of group 12 metal ions: Studies on their photophysical properties and phosphatase like activity

The reaction of a pentadentate compartmental ligand LH, namely 4-tert-Butyl-2,6-bis-[(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenol, with group 12 metal ions (Zn^II, Cd^II, Hg^II) followed by addition of NaSCN afforded one discrete dinuclear complex [Zn₂(L)(SCN)₃](1), and two polymeric 1D species [Cd_2.5(L)(SCN)₃(AcO)]_n (2) and [Hg₂(L)(SCN)₃]_n (3). All the complexes have been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of the complexes reveals different coordination modes of thiocyanate anion that affect the different topology detected in the compounds: the anions are μ¹-NCS and μ^1,1-NCS connected in complex 1, while μ^1,3-NCS bridging mode is observed in 2, and μ¹-SCN and μ^1,3-NCS in 3. The polymeric Hg complex of the bicompartmental ligand system here reported is unprecedented. Detail study of their photophysical properties including the phosphorescence spectra at 77K has been done. Phosphatase like activity of all the three complexes has been performed in DMSO-H₂O medium and their activity follows the order of 1>2>>3.

Photoinduced electron transfer in supramolecular ruthenium–porphyrin assemblies

We present dynamic supramolecular systems composed of a Ru(ii) complex of the form of [Ru(dtBubpy)₂(qpy)][PF₆]₂ (where dtBubpy is 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-dipyridyl and qpy is 4,4′:2′,2′′:4′′,4′′′-quaterpyridine) and zinc tetraphenylporphyrins (ZnTPP), through non-covalent interactions between the distal pyridines of the qpy and the zinc of ZnTPP.

A photo-responsive polymeric azopyridine ligand with metal-complexation sensitivity: application to coordination equilibrium studies on the polymer complexes of a cobalt(ii) Schiff base

A photo-responsive polymeric azopyridine ligand with complexation sensitivity provided coordination equilibrium for complexation with cobalt salen in a dilute solution.

A luminescent and colorimetric probe based on the functionalization of gold nanoparticles by ruthenium(ii) complexes for heparin detection

A colorimetric and luminescent bifunctional Ru(ii) complex-modified gold nanoprobe for the sensing of heparin in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) and 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was developed.

Fullerene–Pyrrolidine Biferrocene Donor–Acceptor Triads: Synthesis and Effects of Fullerene[60] on the Electronic Communication of the Two Ferrocene Units in Biferrocene

A novel nanoscale molecule, fullerene[60]-based biferrocene (C60-ph-Fc-Fc), was prepared via covalent grafting of biferrocene onto C60 using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and was fully characterized by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that C60-ph-Fc-Fc undergoes four successive quasi-reversible processes in the potential window of –2.0~0.40 V (versus Fc+/Fc). The biferrocene (moiety) exhibited significant electronic communication between the two ferrocenyl groups both before and after grafting onto C60. Grafting of fullerene led to weakening in the electronic interaction, and the comproportionation constant decreased by nearly five orders of magnitude from 1.56 × 106 for Fc-Fc to 88 for C60-ph-Fc-Fc, indicating that the electronic communication between halves of the biferrocene could be effectively modified by grafting of C60. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility (2–300 K) study showed that there was a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the ferrocene FeII centres.

Exploring the self-assembly and energy transfer of dynamic supramolecular iridium-porphyrin systems

We present the first examples of dynamic supramolecular iridium–zinc porphyrin systems.

Density functional theory study of electric field effects on the isomerization of a photochromic molecular switch based on 1,2-dithienylethene

Structural and electronic properties of 1,2-bis(5-methyl-[2,2′-bithiophen]-4-yl)cyclopent-1-ene in closed form and open form under various external electric field with strengths, 0, 10 × 10−4, 20 × 10−4, 30 × 10−4, 40 × 10−4, and 50 × 10−4a.u., were studied using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G* method. As a positive index, structural parameters, length of the photoisomers, and the electronic spatial extents are almost stable at different external electric fields. The UV-Vis electronic spectrum based on time-dependent density functional theory indicated that the HOMO → LUMO transition in the closed form under different electric field strengths is strongly allowed, whereas is very weak in the open form. Electronic response parameters such as the HOMO−LUMO gap, electric dipole moment, and polarizability showed that electric conductivity of the closed form at different field strengths is greater than in the open form. Results of electronic density of states show that at high external electric field, the conductivity of the open form and closed form will be probably equal and switching behavior cannot be observed. Isomerization of the closed form to the open form at different external electric fields can be considered as exothermic and spontaneous.

Novel tandem synthesis of bis(μ-NN′-tetrazolate) bridged dinuclear nickel(ii) Schiff base complex via [3 + 2] cyclo-addition at ambient condition

A bis(μ-NN′-tetrazolate) bridged dinuclear nickel(ii) Schiff base complex was synthesized via [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 2-cyanopyrazine and sodium azide.

Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes with hydroxypyridine derivatives: effect of protonation and ethylation at the pyridyl nitrogen

A new series of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes with a hydroxypyridine ligand were prepared, and their properties were investigated spectroscopically and electrochemically. Particular focus is paid to the effects of protonation-deprotonation and ethylation of the hydroxypyridine ligand, which affects the NMR, electronic spectroscopy, and electrochemistry of the complex. The changes to the UV-vis spectrum were used to determine a pka of 10.5 for the hydroxypyridine nitrogen. In the NMR, protonation of the hydroxypyridine ligand of the complex causes changes in the chemical shifts of the protons on both the hydroxypyridine and bipyridine rings, indicating some degree of electronic communication between these ligands. In addition, it is found that deprotonation of the hydroxypyridine ligand strongly affects the redox potential of the ruthenium metal center, shifting it more negative by 0.4 V. While the electrochemistry of the protonated complex contains irreversible electrochemical events, both deprotonation and subsequent ethylation of the hydroxypyridine ligand result in reversible electrochemistry for all events within the solvent window. For the ethylated complex, we search for a ligand to ligand charge transfer band, corresponding to electron transfer between bipyridine ligands in the mixed valence state. Despite the potential for electronic coupling between ligands through the metal center, we were unable to find any spectroscopic evidence of such electronic coupling.

Light-driven coordination-induced spin-state switching: rational design of photodissociable ligands

The bistability of spin states (e.g., spin crossover) in bulk materials is well investigated and understood. We recently extended spin-state switching to isolated molecules at room temperature (light-driven coordination-induced spin-state switching, or LD-CISSS). Whereas bistability and hysteresis in conventional spin-crossover materials are caused by cooperative effects in the crystal lattice, spin switching in LD-CISSS is achieved by reversibly changing the coordination number of a metal complex by means of a photochromic ligand that binds in one configuration but dissociates in the other form. We present mathematical proof that the maximum efficiency in property switching by such a photodissociable ligand (PDL) is only dependent on the ratio of the association constants of both configurations. Rational design by using DFT calculations was applied to develop a photoswitchable ligand with a high switching efficiency. The starting point was a nickel-porphyrin as the transition-metal complex and 3-phenylazopyridine as the photodissociable ligand. Calculations and experiments were performed in two iterative steps to find a substitution pattern at the phenylazopyridine ligand that provided optimum performance. Following this strategy, we synthesized an improved photodissociable ligand that binds to the Ni-porphyrin with an association constant that is 5.36 times higher in its trans form than in the cis form. The switching efficiency between the diamagnetic and paramagnetic state is efficient as well (72% paramagnetic Ni-porphyrin after irradiation at 365 nm, 32% paramagnetic species after irradiation at 440 nm). Potential applications arise from the fact that the LD-CISSS approach for the first time allows reversible switching of the magnetic susceptibility of a homogeneous solution. Photoswitchable contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and light-controlled magnetic levitation are conceivable applications.

"ON-OFF" switching of europium complex luminescence coupled with a ligand redox process

A triarylamine-functionalized terpyridine ligand formed a highly coordinated complex with europium tris(β-diketonate), which displayed reversible ''ON-OFF'' luminescence switching coupled with a ligand redox process of triarylamine/triarylaminium cations.